Absences from Class

All students are expected to attend classes regularly. Students on probation are compelled by university policy to attend every class meeting. In addition, an individual faculty member may establish attendance requirements for all students in the course, and may insist on the completion of all assignments even if a student was not in attendance for the period. Tardy students may be marked absent at the discretion of the instructor.

Students who need to miss class due to illness, family emergency or any otherwise unavoidable reason are advised to contact both their class advisor and the professor(s) or TA(s) of the course(s) affected, whether by email, phone, etc. This initial notification does not ensure an extension or the opportunity to make up an examination. Students will need to discuss the matter in greater detail with their professor(s) in order to make specific arrangements. Brandeis Health Center does not write "sick or excuse notes" for class absences.

Students with a serious illness or condition that lasts longer than a few days or results in hospitalization should contact the Office of Academic Services (781-736-3470) and the Brandeis Health Center (781-736-3677) for advice on managing their academic responsibilities and medical needs. More information on Brandeis's policy regarding illness can be found on the Health Center's website.

In rare circumstances, students may have to miss more than a week of class due to serious illness or to family emergencies. In these cases, a student should be in immediate contact with his or her class advisor to discuss what options may be available. Because class participation and peer learning are important aspects of the Brandeis educational experience, students who miss more than two weeks of class ordinarily withdraw from the semester.